What are some parts to make some decent power from a 5.3? I'll have about 1,000 to spend on everything, including motor (which ive priced from $100 to $350 complete). I heard a used zo6 cam would be good along with l/t's but what about springs and which stall? And e-fans are going in without a doubt, just worrying about internals for now. This will be going into my 94 w/4.3,A4,3.08s. I'm also torn on which gears to get. Primary use of the truck will be street and so it's between 3.42s and 3.73s. Thanks in advance for the help.

 

You want to buy the engine and performance parts for $1,000?

 

Check the classifieds for used cams/headers. Either gears will work well, but you can't go wrong with 3.73's.

 

Well, that's the plan, but I also know I'm going to buy ALOT of things used.

 

If all you have to work with right now is $1K, then I would concentrate on simply getting the engine installed. You ALWAYS end up spending more than you think you will.

 

LS6 springs will serve you fine. I seriously doubt your going to have money left over for gears. You can always do those later. Concentrate on just the engine for now.

 

Try looking at used parts and look on different sites classifieds like silverado53 said.

You can eat up through $1000 really quick doing any type of performance mods like cam etc and then add LT Headers to the equation.

Z06 cams are cheap and you can just use some LS6 yellow springs which are cheap too.

If you're lucky you might get the engine and a z06 cam installed with some cheap headers if you do ALL the work yourself for your budget. I don't see you getting all that you are wanting for only $1000.

You will need all the tools like valve spring compressor, harmonic balancer installer and puller, new gaskets when you put in new cam depending on how the old gaskets look and how old the engine is (mileage) when you get it, new balancer bolt, new timing chain if its needed, and new oil pump O-Ring if you decide to get a new timing chain because you have to take off the pump and the pickup tube.

Just do the motor for now.

Blsnelling pretty much said everything you need to know.

 

used the 04 ls6 cam in my old 5.3 and with a 3k stall it picked up over a second in the 1/8 mile with just cam and stall. Idle quality sounded way too "stock" for me tho.. i have a set of ls6 springs if ya need a set shoot me a pm